China The Cake Of The Kings and Emperors

An epic political cartoon about China from 1898. A pastry represents and is being divided between Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, William II of Germany, Nicholas II of Russia, the French Marianne and a samurai representing Japan, carefully contemplating which pieces to take. A stereotypical Qing official throws up his hands to try and stop them, but is powerless. It is meant to be a figurative representation of the Imperialist tendencies of these nations towards China during the decade.